Road construction is overseen by four main areas: the Capital Improvements Section of the Engineering Division in the Department of Public Works, the Engineering Division of the Development Services Department (DSD), Sandoval County, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). The Capital Improvements Section takes care of road construction on capital projects, a list of which can be found on the Capital Improvement Projects page. The Engineering Division of DSD handles the road construction of new subdivisions or for commercial development. Sandoval County typically does work outside the City Limits, but occasionally does work within City Limits. NMDOT handles road construction on state roads: NM 528, US 550, and Paseo del Volcan (NM 347).

Please see our Traffic Update page for construction delays that may be present in the City of Rio Rancho. For areas outside of Rio Rancho you may want to check the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s (New Mexico Roads).

Each Capital Improvement Project is funded differently. They can be funded by a combination of grants issued by the State or Federal government, City money generated from City water/wastewater bills, or local taxes.

Each Capital Improvement Project has phases. These phases are typically: preliminary design, final design, and construction. Each phase takes time to complete. Each phase of the project has to be funded and approved by the City’s Governing Body. Thus Capital Improvement Projects are designed years in advance to limit the time it would take to construct the project.

Residential roads may be dug up near the water meter for two reasons: there is a leak that is being repaired or the service line is being replaced. Leaks that are present in the road are the responsibility of the City of Rio Rancho and are fixed as soon as possible, with regards to the other types of leaks that maybe present in the City. Service lines are being replaced as part of an ongoing project known as the Water Service Line Replacement Project. This project has several phases in order to replace aging service lines with new copper ones.

The Building Maintenance Section of the Department of Public Works is responsible for the American flags only.All other flags are taken care of by the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD).Please contact PRD for any missing flags, which are not American flags, at (505) 891-5015. For American flags that are missing please report them to (505) 891-5016.

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on the Earth’s surface.GIS can show many different kinds of data on one map.This enables people to more easily see, analyze, and understand patterns and relationships.This system helps to create the maps that are used by Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

You can purchase a map of the City of Rio Rancho from the Development Services Department located in City Hall (3200 Civic Center Circle, NE) Suite 130 on the first floor.You can also call them at (505) 891-5005.

Yes.You can purchase a map of the City of Rio Rancho from the Development Services Department located in City Hall (3200 Civic Center Circle) suite 130 on the first floor.You can also call them at (505) 891-5005.

Road sweeping consists of sweeping paved roads that are City owned. Only City owned roads are swept as conditions permit. The City is able to sweep high traffic volume roads twice a year. The City attempts to sweep all residential roads at least once every other year.

Pavement Maintenance is performed to extend the life of the existing pavement and improve driving surfaces. Full reconstruction only is needed when a roadway reaches the end of its lifecycle. When cracks and potholes become major deficiencies, but full reconstruction is not warranted, then another method must be used to extend the lifecycle of the roadway. One such method is surface seals such as microsurfacing. These seals are not new pavement but a surface treatment to help protect the roadway from further weather deterioration. Whereas, a mill and inlay is a method that removes the existing asphalt and then replaces the removed asphalt with new asphalt. Both methods require underlying cracks and other deficiencies to be repaired before either method can be used, and both methods extend the lifecycle of the roadway by seven (7) to fifteen (15) years respectively.

The City repairs cracks and potholes on paved City roadways. Crack sealing is performed on cracks that are less than or equal to two (2) inches wide, whereas, crack patching is performed on cracks that are greater than two (2) inches wide. Crack sealing and crack patching have very long repair times and are often scheduled a year in advance. Each year the Governing Body is consulted to allow for funding to fix cracks in the roadways. When funding is approved, each Council District is allocated the same number of repairs.

Potholes on paved City roadways are taken care of every other Friday, as conditions permit and in the order that they were reported. Form more information visit our Road Repair page.

There are two reasons why cracks may still be visible after City crews perform crack sealing: they may not be finished with the road yet or the crack is larger than two (2) inches in width and requires crack patching. If the crack requires crack patching, it will be completed at a later date, if funding permits.

Snow is removed from roadways that are high traffic volume, such as arterial and collector roadways; roadways with large hills, and roads around schools, hospitals, and fire and police stations first. Other high traffic volume roadways are cleared second. The City does not perform snow and ice removal from residential roads. Please see the Snow Removal page for more information.

Traffic cameras at intersections for red light running and speeding violations only take pictures when they are activated. They do not record on a constant basis. For more information about how the cameras operate please call (505) 896-8307.

Speed humps have a limited effectiveness which means that there are not many streets that would benefit from their placement. However, you can still slow down traffic on your road by following the steps listed on our Traffic Calming page.

A Special Assessment District, also known as a SAD, is a means to provide property owners infrastructure that was not built at the time their subdivision was created.The State of New Mexico refers to such subdivision land as “Premature Platting”.Please see our Special Assessment District (SAD) Information page for more information.

Developers of planned subdivisions are required to build the necessary infrastructure associated with their development.However, as a result of the “Premature Platting” having been performed long before the City of Rio Rancho existed (incorporated in 1981) there is no single developer of the subdivision.Each individual property owner, when he or she builds on the individual property owned, is the developer of that lot.Therefore, a SAD places the cost of the infrastructure on the developed who, in this case, is also the individual property owner.

The address used for the mailing list is obtained from the County Assessor’s Office.Therefore, the mailing are sent to the same persona and address that the County Property Tax bills are sent.It is thus in your best interest to contact the County Tax Assessor’s Office to verify that they have the correct name and contact information.It is best if you provide them with both the physical address (if one exists) and the legal address.For the legal address be sure to provide the Unit Number, Block Number, and Lot Number of each lot of concern.

At the very beginning of a SAD the City sends out a poll to each property owner to reflect their desire to participate in a SAD.The poll is not part of the legal SAD process and is, therefore, only sent via regular mail to the same address as the County Property Tax bills.The legal SAD process notifications such as those for the Benefit Hearing and the Assessment Hearing are sent via certified mail.

If the inclusion of additional improvement is supported by engineering research and the other SAD participants then it may be possible.Such changes are governed by the maximum benefit to the property, the cost of the improvements, and the timing of the request.

Developers of planned subdivisions are required to build the necessary infrastructure associated with their development.However, as a result of the “Premature Platting” having been performed long before the City of Rio Rancho existed (incorporated in 1981) there is no single developer of the subdivision.Each individual property owner, when he or she builds on the individual property owned, is the developer of that lot.Therefore, a SAD places the cost of the infrastructure on the developed who, in this case, is also the individual property owner.

The amount of the assessment is first estimated by the design engineer so a cost may be compared to the benefit to the property.This estimated amount is available at the time of Resolution 2.However, the actual amount of the assessment will not be known until bids are received from the contractor and the low bidder is identified.This information is mailed to each property owner and is presented at the Assessment Hearing.

Assessments may be financed through the City or they may be paid in full during the cash pay period.On the average it takes about a year from the time a SAD is started to the time of the Cash Pay Period.If the assessment is financed the payback period and schedule is set in the Assessment Ordinance after Resolution 4.

There are two types of traffic studies: traffic impact study and a traffic volume study. A traffic impact study analyzes the impact of traffic from a new development, business, or a new road to name a few examples. A traffic volume study analyzes the amount of traffic in a given area.Traffic volume studies are usually conducted to determine if there is a requirement for traffic calming.

A Traffic Study analyzes the traffic on a given road.It records the amount of traffic, average speed of traffic, the speed of most of the vehicles, and the speed of those vehicles that exceed the speed of most drivers.It is with this data that Traffic Calming may be implemented.

The only recorded data is for Traffic counts at intersections for a specified project. This data is stored in a *.mio file format.It is deleted at the completion of the project. For further details please see our Collection and Use of Traffic Video Data PolicyPDF.

You can report it by going to our Report Rio Rancho application to fill out a service request, or by calling (505) 891-5016 to report the street light. If it is after normal business hours please call (505) 896-7300. Please include the location (cross streets or in front of an address), and the behavior of the light (is it flickering, completely out, been run over, etc.). If you would like updates, such as when parts are ordered or when it will be fixed, then please leave your name and a contact number. We will put it on our log and fix it as soon as we are able.

You can report it by going to our Report Rio Rancho application to fill out a service request, or by calling (505) 891-5016 to report the street sign. If it is after normal business hours please call (505) 896-7300. Please include the location (cross streets), and the sign or signs that are missing. If you would like updates, such as when parts are ordered or when it will be fixed, then please leave your name and a contact number. We will put it on our log and fix it as soon as we are able.

You can report it by going to our Report Rio Rancho application to fill out a service request, or by calling (505) 891-5016 to report the malfunctioning traffic signal. If it is after normal business hours please call (505) 896-7300. Please include the location (cross streets), what time of day the malfunction was observed, and details on what the malfunction is (please include directions of travel when this malfunction occurs). If you would like updates, such as when parts are ordered or when it will be fixed, then please leave your name and a contact number. We will put it on our log and fix it as soon as we are able.

There are two ways to get street lights in your neighborhood. One way is if you are forming a Special Assessment District and would like to add street lights to the proposal. You can find information on a Special Assessment District by clicking on the link. If you have further questions please see the Miscellaneous page.

The second way is by calling (505) 896-8773 to request a study for street lights to be conducted. This method is only done if a Special Assessment District is not being considered.

There are two landfills within the City.The Sandoval County Landfill is located at 2708 Iris Rd. NE. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed Sundays and most holidays

The Waste Management landfill is located at 1132 Carpenter St. NE. Hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday

You will need to contact Waste Management of New Mexico to request a recycling bin.It is encouraged to request the bin at the beginning of setup of your service, because you are paying for the recycling bin in your bill.Their number is (505) 892-1200.

You must be within City Limits to get access to water/wastewater services. Please call our Utility Engineer Technician at (505) 891-5061 or our Utility Systems Engineer at (505) 891-5046 to find out if water/wastewater is available at your property.

Polyethylene lines were used extensively in Rio Rancho by builders and developers because of the high price of copper. Unfortunately, these lines do not survive well with the normal pressure changes throughout its lifetime. These lines are being replaced through our ongoing project known as Water Service Line Replacement Project. This project has several phases in order to replace aging service lines with new copper ones.

Water service lines are being replaced through our ongoing project known as the Water Service Line Replacement Project. This project has several phases in order to replace aging service lines with new copper ones. All of the polyethylene pipes in the road will be replaced, as budget allows. The streets with the worst and frequent water leaks that were reported are being taken care of first to reduce the amount of water that is lost. The other streets will be taken care of in order of severity. If you have any questions, please contact Public Works at (505) 891-5016.

If water line infrastructure is constructed on your road, and you already have an existing domestic well, then you can tie into the line at any time. However, if you choose not to tie in, and your domestic well has a catastrophic failure and must be re-drilled, then you are required to tie into the new water line. However, when tying into the new line you will need to fill out the proper forms. For more information please call our Utility Systems Engineer at (505) 891-5046.

If wastewater line infrastructure is constructed on your road, and you already have an existing septic tank, then you can tie into the line at any time. However, if you choose not to tie in, and your septic tank has a catastrophic failure and must be redone, then you are required to tie into the new wastewater line. However, when tying into the new line you will need to fill out the proper forms. For more information please call our Utility Systems Engineer at (505) 891-5046.

In Rio Rancho, most water meters are located in the front yard. In the older subdivisions, the meter is under a round, plastic or metal lid.In the newer subdivisions, the meter is under a rectangular, gray fiberglass lid and you might share this meter box with your neighbor. However, you do not share the meter itself. Please be careful when opening the lid to the meter. There may be wires attached to the antenna; or spiders, or snakes may be residing in the meter can.

Rio Rancho meters read in gallons of water and they resemble a car odometer. The numbers listed below the word “Gallons” are in thousands of gallons that you have used since the meter has been installed. You will read the meter from left to right. See a picture of a Water MeterPDF. You can also use your meter as a leak detector. To find out how to do this please visit our Detect and Fix Leaks page.

Your high water/wastewater bills can be caused by leaks. If you are not sure if you have a leak please see our Detect and Fix Leaks page for details on how you can use your water meter to help you find common leaks in your home. You can also learn about water conservation method on our Water Conservation page. If you have exhausted the previous avenues then you may need to seek monetary assistance, please see our Water Assistance Programs page.

The Winter Quarter Average (WQA) is calculated by using your water/wastewater utility consumption used during the December, January, and February billing cycle. The WQA is used because it shows indoor domestic water consumption, which irrigation does not interfere with. The WQA is divided by the total amount of service days in the billing cycle to get a daily average usage. The daily average is then multiplied by 30.42, or 30.50 for leap years, to get your monthly average. Once this is calculated the new wastewater rate based off of your WQA is started in March every year. For more information visit our Water, Wastewater, and Recycled Water Rates page.

Example of the equation:(C ÷D)×Y =WQA

C = Total Consumptions for the WQA billing cycle.

D = Total number of days in the WQA billing cycle.

Y=daily average multiplication number.

Use 30.42 for non-leap years.

Use 30.50 for leap years.

WQA = this is the gallons per month charged as your wastewater rate for the next year.

You will be classified as a new customer. All new residential customer’s wastewater volume charge is based on actual consumption or the class average, whichever is less until the next Winter Quarter Average period. The residential class average is currently four (4) thousand gallons.

In order to get a lower Winter Quarter Average: start conserving your water in November, fix any leaking toilets or faucets, replace old toilets and washers with high-efficiency ones, and see our Water Conservation page for more information.

You can conserve water by detecting and fixing leaks early, replace high water usage appliances with high-efficiency ones, adhere to the water restrictions that are in place, and see about investing in xeriscaping. More detailed information can be found on our Water Conservation page.

You can drain your pool by using the wastewater cleanouts located either in the front or in the rear of your house. These cleanouts are capped.Draining of your pool will take days. By following the above method you will not get a fine for water waste. If you have any questions please call our Environmental Program Manager at (505) 896-8737.

A Water Variance is for those who are: repairing or maintaining an irrigation system, have newly landscaped areas, or need a single-day irrigation for the application of chemicals for landscape. This means that those with a granted Water Variance can water outside of the Watering Restrictions.

The first thing to do is identify if the leak is on your property or in the street. If the leak is on your property you should call a plumber immediately. If the leak is in the road, visit our Report a Water Leak page.

Once a leak has been reported it is assigned a number. It will take 24 hours before you will see the leak noted on our Active Water Leaks Map. Leaks are fixed in order of priority. Water main leaks are fixed first because of the amount of water loss that happens when a main breaks. Then service lines are fixed and then meter leaks. Service lines and meter leaks have a 48 hour waiting period to allow other Utilities to spot their lines per State Law. Please be patient and know that we will get to the leak as soon as we are able.

The most common type of water leak in the City comes from the service line. These leaks occur because of the material the line is made of which is polyethylene. These polyethylene lines were used extensively in Rio Rancho by builders and developers because of the high price of copper. Unfortunately, these lines do not survive well with the normal pressure changes throughout its lifetime. These lines are being replaced through our ongoing project known as Water Service Line Replacement Project. This project has several phases in order to replace aging service lines with new copper ones.

The most common type of leak in your home is from the toilet or faucets. You can learn how to identify these leaks and how to fix them by visiting our Detect and Fix Leaks page.

Residents are responsible for weeds and litter on their own property to the right-of-way. The Streets & Right-of-Way (ROW) Division takes care of weeds and litter in City right-of-way, when it is not in front of a home or business. Sometimes Home Owners Associations (HOAs) are responsible for the weeds along roads. To see which roads the Streets & ROW Division maintains versus an HOA, visit our VisionView map.